Fabric Knowledge: Breanish Tweed

With fall quickly approaching, a stylish man’s thoughts quickly turn towards tweed. While names like like Harris tweed are generally well know, there is another tweed from the Isle of Lewis called Breanish tweed which should be added to your sartorial lexicon.

But you may be asking yourself, isn’t Harris tweed woven in the same place? The answer to that question is yes. What makes Breanish tweed different however, is that it is a lightweight tweed. It also does not come from the same island sheep as Harris tweed and is not woven at the same mills either.

In terms of quality however, have no fear as it is every bit the equal of Harris tweed (and some may say even a touch better).

Breanish tweeds are woven on Yorkshire built Hattersley looms taking four days to make a bolt of cloth (which is done by hand). Before the weaving begins, three miles of walking back and forth to create the initial warp must be done followed by the ‘tie-in’ knots which number over eight hundred. At this point the weaving actually begins!

Breanish tweed has been hounoured with the Balvenie Masters of Craft Awards for Textiles.